The series has a new name – O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – but the racing hasn’t changed. And just like the Craftsman Truck and Cup Series, the field is overflowing with drivers hoping to race on the high banked tri-oval that is Daytona International Speedway.
There are 42 teams at Daytona for 38 starting spots in the field.
In two round of qualifying, the top 10 drivers from round one will move on for a second round to determine the pole sitter for the race.
Garrett Smithley is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and post a time of 50.131 seconds.
Blaine Perkins is the first driver to break the 50 second mark with a time of 49.708 seconds.
The top 10 drivers moving on to round two of qualifying are:
William Sawalich
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Sam Mayer
Sheldon Creed
Rajah Caruth
Patrick Staropoli
Corey Day
Taylor Gray
Ryan Sieg
First up in round two is Ryan Sieg who posted a time of 49.608 seconds.
Garrett Smithley, David Starr, Joey Gase, and Anthony Alfredo failed to make the race.
Retina specialist Dr. Patrick Starapoli is taking some time away from his optical duties to drive full time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in the Big Machine Records number 48 car.
With a time of 49.390 seconds, Austin Hill puts his number 21 car on the pole with teammate Jesse Love alongside on the front row. Love was just one/one-thousandth of a second behind Hill.
The starting lineup for the United Rentals 300:
Austin Hill
Jesse Love
Sam Mayer
William Sawalich
Sheldon Creed
Corey Day
Rajah Caruth
Patrick Staropoli
Taylor Gray
Ryan Sieg
Carson Kvapil
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Blaine Perkins
Brandon Jones
Gio Ruggiero
Jordan Anderson
Dean Thompson
Patrick Emerling
Carson Hocevar
Mason Maggio
Jeb Burton
Luke Fenhaus
Harrison Burton
Brennan Poole
Caesar Bacarella
Parker Retzlaff
Nick Sanchez
Jeremy Clements
Austin Green
Josh Williams
Ryan Ellis
Daniel Dye
Josh Bilicki
Natalie Decker
Kyle Sieg
Lavar Scott
Carson Ware
NASCAR reminds the drivers that locking bumpers is not allowed in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
And NO putting hands outside of the car! NASCAR wants the drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and inside the car.
Stages one and two are 30 laps each with stage three lasting 60 laps for a total of 120 laps around the 2.5 mile track.
Harrison Burton and Parker Retzlaff have to move to the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments to the cars.
Anthony Alfredo is taking over the driving duties in the number four car qualified by Caesar Bacarella.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Jesse Love alongside. The race barely got started when NASCAR put out the caution flag for a wreck after drivers got stacked up involving Brennen Poole, Jeremy Clements, Mason Maggio, Anthony Alfredo, Luke Fenhaus, Natalie Decker, Patrick Emerling, Lavar Scott, and Josh Williams. There is significant damage to the front end of Mason Maggio’s car.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside on lap six. Hill and Love are side by side in a battle for the lead. Drivers quickly get three wide as they battle for position.
Lap eight, William Sawalich gets out in front for the lead with Austin Hill in second; Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.
Lap 10, Austin Hill leads the race with Jesse Love in second; Carson Kvapil, Brandon Jones, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.
In three wide racing, drivers do a lot of moving forward and back in the field.
Ryan Sieg has a tire going down after brushing the wall but makes it pit road and the track stays green on lap 12.
Lap 15, most of the drivers have gotten single file with Austin Hill leading the way; Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, Nick Sanchez, and Jeremy Clements round out the top five.
Lap 17, a second lane has for on the inside and is moving forward.
Just 12 laps remain in stage one with Austin Hill leading the race; Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five as they swap positions.
Lap 21, Austin Hill holds on to the lead with teammate Jesse Love on his bumper; Carson Kvapil, Nick Sanchez, and Jeremy Clements round out the top five.
Seven laps remain in stage one, Austin Hill leads the race from the outside lane; the other lanes are chaotic and unorganized.
Four laps remain in stage one with Austin Hill leading the way; Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Corey Day gets loose and spins out but keeps the car moving and the track stays green with two laps remaining in stage one.
Sammy Smith gets turned around to bring out the caution at the end of stage one. Sam Mayer, Nick Sanchez, Sheldon Creed, and Gio Ruggiero were also involved.
Austin Hill wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Austin Hill
Jesse Love
Carson Kvapil
Justin Allgaier
Blaine Perkins
William Sawalich
Jeremy Clements
Brandon Jones
Rajah Caruth
Taylor Gray
Drivers come down pit road for service with Jesse Love edging out Carson Kvapil to win the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Several teams were issued penalties after pit stops.
Out of the infield care center and the race, Gio Ruggiero said they had some engine issues.
The hood from Luke Fenhaus’ car flew off and went sailing through the air.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 39. Jesse Love gets out in front from the outside lane.
The top five are Jesse Love, Rajah Caruth, Austin Hill, William Sawalich, and Carson Kvapil.
Lap 40, drivers are spreading out across the track.
Lap 42, Justin Allgaier passes teammate Carson Kvapil for fourth.
Lap 45, Jesse Love holds on to the lead of the race with Justin Allgaier moves into second place.
Austin Hill gets the bottom lane organized and has a narrow lead on Jesse Love; William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth , and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Lap 47, leader Austin Hill passes Sheldon Creed to put him a lap down.
Lap 49, Austin Hill leads the race with Jesse Love and Justin Allgaier in a battle for second; Rajah Caruth and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
Taylor Gray and Carson Kvapil battle for fifth.
Rajah Caruth reports that the air “is very turbulent”.
There has been no “big one” but half the field has some sort of damage to their cars after the two dust ups in the race.
Just four laps remain in stage two; Austin Hill leads the race with Rajah Caruth in second; Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Three laps to go in stage two, Rajah Caruth battles with Austin Hill for the lead. All four of the JRM cars are in the top five.
Corey Day got loose but saved the car.
Austin Hill wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Austin Hill
Carson Kvapil
Justin Allgaier
William Sawalich
Rajah Caruth
Parker Retzlaff
Sammy Smith
Jeremy Clements
Jeb Burton
Blaine Perkins
Drivers come down pit road for service with Austin Hill winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
The drivers will have to make a green flag pit stop during stage three.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with William Sawalich alongside on lap 67 – 54 laps to go. Hill jumps out in front for the lead.
The top five are Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth, and Brandon Jones.
With 51 laps to go, William Sawalich tries to move down to challenge Austin Hill.
Fifty to go! Austin Hill has dominated the race and continues to lead the race; William Sawalich, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Lap 73, Autin Hill continues to lead the race with Jesse Love in second; Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
With 44 laps to go, Austin Hill has led 63 laps so far (his most to date); Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and Corey Day round out the top five.
The drivers are in their fuel window now, but plans are to wait a few more laps in order to have enough fuel in case of an overtime finish.
Forty to go; the top five are Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and Corey Day.
Leaders come down pit road for service giving the lead over to Sam Mayer.
Austin Hill and Jesse Love take fuel only.
The green flag cycle of pit stops has begun.
The 92 car of Josh Williams is out of the race with an engine issue.
With 35 laps remaining in the race a big pack of drivers come down pit road for service. Several are taking fuel only.
Jordan Anderson is the new leader.
With 33 laps to go, the top eight drivers have yet to make a pit stop with Jordan Anderson in the lead.
Just 30 laps to go and the final group of drivers make their pit stops. Ryan Ellis leads the race.
With 29 laps remaining in the race there’s a big crash – “The Big One” collects up a pack of drivers.
NASCAR has red flagged the race.
Jeremy Clements, Brandon Jones, Natalie Decker, Ryan Sieg, Sam Mayer, Patrick Emerling, Taylor Gray, Jeb Burton, and Justin Allgaier were all involved.
Austin Hill reports some issues with his car; feeling like his tires are gone.
Moving again, some of the drivers come down pit road for service including Austin Hill.
Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart with Sammy Smith alongside with 24 laps remaining in the race.
After his pit stop, Austin Hill restarts the race in 12th place.
Sammy Smith and Jesse Love battle for the lead; Blaine Perkins, Carson Kvapil, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.
With 22 laps to go, Austin Hill has entered the top five.
Jesse Love leads the race with Austin Hill in second; Blaine Perkins, Parker Retzlaff, and Carson Kvapil round out the top five.
With 21 laps to go, another big crash brings out the caution flag. There was even a fire in the grass! Corey Day, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, William Sawalich, Taylor Gray, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Sieg, Patrick Emerling, Lavar Scott, Patrick Starapoli, Kaniel Dye, Justin Allgaier, and Rajah Caruth were all involved.
With just 13 Jesse Love brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside. Love edges out for the lead from the outside lane but Austin Hill comes up on the inside to battle for the lead.
The caution flag comes out for Jeb Burton with a flat tire and spraying debris on the track with just 12 laps remaining in the race.
Austin Hill is the leader and will bring the field down for the green flag restart with Jesse Love alongside. There are just eight laps remaining in the race. In a side by side battle and a push from behind, Austin Hill edges out for the lead.
The top five are Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Blaine Perkins, Parker Retzlaff, and Sammy Smith.
Jesse Love dropped down to the inside and battles with Austin Hill for the lead.
The caution flag comes out for another wreck with six laps to go. Rajah Caruth and Carson Hocevar make contact and send drivers scattering.
Austin Hill brings the field down for the shootout to the end with Sammy Smith alongside with just two laps remaining in the race. Austin Hill edges out for the lead after a push form Brennen Poole.
Austin Hill takes the white flag!
Austin Hill wins the race for his fourth Daytona win.
The unofficial results of the United Rentals 300:
Austin Hill
Justin Allgaier
Ryan Sieg
Jordan Anderson
Sammy Smith
Ryan Ellis
Carson Kvapil
Blaine Perkins
Jesse Love
Rajah Caruth
Anthony Alfredo
Brennan Poole
Patrick Emerling
Parker Retzlaff
Kyle Sieg
Lavar Scott
Josh Bilicki
Patrick Starpoli
Carson Ware
Carson Hocevar
Damoe; Dye
Austin Green
Luke Fenhaus
Sheldon Creed
Jeb Burton
William Sawalich
Corey Day
Taylor Gray
Harrison Burton
Brandon Jones
Sam Mayer
Jeremy Clements
Natalie Decker
Josh Williams
Dean Thompson
Nick Sanchez
Gio Ruggiero
Mason Maggio